Mama Pho Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in Winchester

I was disappointed. Nothing was terrible but everything was sub-par. The rice noodles in my Gỏi cuốn (they call them spring rolls) were hot (!) and overcooked, and the peanut dipping sauce was pretty uninspired. The pho was very mediocre - the broth wasn't beefy or fragrant with spices. You could tell it was homemade (not instant broth at least), but it was kind of weak and flavorless. The fresh herbs are a huge part of the meal for me and I'm used to getting a large bunch of Thai basil and/or mint, or even cilantro or sawtooth herb with my pho. I literally got two medium size, and two tiny, leaves of basil. That's like 1/10 of what I consider usual. And instead of fresh bird's eye chilis, you get a few bitter slices of jalapeño. Hoisin sauce is usually offered at the table which has a consistency like ketchup, or thicker. Whatever was in the squeeze bottle they gave me was thin and runny. Watered down maybe? I love Vietnamese food and love pho, but I think I'll be driving to West Hartford or Springfield or at least Farmington when I have a craving because I don't think this place is worth a return visit. We're lucky to have some excellent Thai choices in the area but it doesn't look like we have a good Vietnamese...

So I tried delivery about 6 months ago, I very much want to like them, the food was okay; but there was SOME miscommunication. an hour after we ordered, I called and triggered a lot of confusion. I took a deep breath and spoke to the person taking orders, they took my order again, and I hung up. 90 MINUTES after that, so 2.5 hours after my original call, I got a call saying they couldn’t find my house. I walked out into the street was waving my arms at the car no more than 150 yards away, only to have to call again say, “pull down the road further, that’s me” “I don’t see you” “just drive forward that’s me” “where?” I don’t know if the kid was high or what, but the whole thing was nuts. Weirdest thing too is they didn’t comp the meal, they didn’t try and reverse the charge, nothing. There was a half hearted, “well tell me it’s you next time and I’ll give you a discount”. I WILL try again, I couldn’t even bring myself to leave a review until now, still not ready to try and order something again. But I freakin love pho and it’s awesome to have a place here; I’ll just have to order...

I just started working in Winsted and was excited to see a Vietnamese restaurant as one of my options. In the month I have been here I have attempted to eat lunch there 5 times and have been successful 4 of them.

The lunch service is S L O W, so I have made it a point to order ahead as I have to get back to work. Even when I have ordered ahead of my arrival I have still waited close to 15 minutes.

Today was frustrating as I scheduled 2 people to meet me there for lunch. When I called at 11:30 am (they open at 11 am) to order our meals for Eating In, I was told that the Cook would not be in for an hour. I don't think that Mama Pho gets it.

BTW - The Veggie Noodles and Tofu Spring roll...